Michael T. Nietzel

I am President Emeritus of Missouri State University. After earning my BA from Wheaton College (Illinois) in 1969, I was awarded a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Illinois in 1973. I joined the faculty at the University of Kentucky that same year, where over the next 30 years I progressed through the professorial ranks and served as Director of the Clinical Psychology Training Program, Chair of the Department of Psychology, Dean of the Graduate School and finally University Provost.

In 2005 I was named President of Missouri State University. Following my retirement from Missouri State in 2011, I became policy advisor to Missouri Governor Jay Nixon. From 2016-2018, I served as the Deputy Director of the Missouri Department of Mental Health.

In 2019 I began writing as a contributor on higher education for Forbes online, where I currently serve as a Senior Contributor. I have written numerous books and textbooks, including most recently Degrees and Pedigrees: The Education of America's Top Executives (2017) and Coming to Grips With Higher Education (2018), both published by Roman & Littlefield.

Along with Chuck Ambrose, I am co-author of the forthcoming book, Colleges on The Brink: The Case For Financial Exigency, which will also be published by Roman & Littlefield. The book describes how those colleges facing the most extreme financial crises can survive and ultimately become better institutions.